Rooney thrives in van Persie partnership

It is Robin
van Persie who is receiving the plaudits, as it is when one player scores as
many as the Dutchman has so far this season for Manchester United. Yet it is
the player his arrival was meant to put pressure on who has thrived arguably
more in partnership with the former Arsenal man.

Rooney
dominated proceedings for United against Arsenal at the weekend, orchestrating
the home team’s play with a scintillating show of his passing range. This is
one of the most intriguing aspects of United’s early season form. Rooney has
been transformed into something of a trequartista, picking the ball up and
spraying it out wide or into van Persie. He has shown an ability to carve open
defences and make the play as well as finish it.

Key to this
is that he is playing in a deeper role, helped by the fact that van Persie is
there to take the goalscoring burden off him. Previously, Rooney was leading
the line, performing a centre forward’s role and finishing chances for his team
as their main goal threat. Now he is able to drop back, become more involved in
build up play and show off his more creative skills. It has brought out the
best in him. United, as a result, have gained a something that they have lacked
in recent years – a playmaker. Not a deep lying playmaker such as Paul Scholes,
but one who will play between the lines of midfield and attack and find wingers
making forward runs, thereby stretching the play.

It is a role
he is well suited to. Rooney has the intelligence and skill to perform in this
position, and has linked up superbly well with Tom Cleverley so far this
season. His performances in that role have been critical to United's superb 3-0 win at Newcastle, and he dominated proceedings against Arsenal. His combination with Cleverley, along with Michael Carrick operating deeper, forms a central trident which is adept at retaining possession and dominating matches.

It is a
change that Roy Hodgson will note with interest, as he ponders how to construct
his England team. A side based around the midfield qualities of Rooney,
Cleverley and Saturday’s opponent Jack Wilshere is a tantalising one for a
country who have for so often struggled to keep possession.

Transferring
club form to international duty has not always been so easy for Rooney, whose
career has not reached the heights many expected. But it is clear already this
season that the arrival of van Persie has revitalised the former Everton man
and given Rooney the tactical freedom that is getting the best out of him.